Cabinet has approved the process to be adopted to facilitate the election of municipal councillors for town and city councils.
And a working group will be established to prepare a detailed plan and a budget for the elections.
This was confirmed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka today as he announced the decisions of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
Mr Rabuka said the process included the establishment of a working group chaired by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, and will comprise heads of central agencies, CEOs of municipal councils and the Fiji Elections Office.
He said the Working Group would formulate recommendations to the Minister for Housing and Local Government on:
- municipal boundaries
- the demarcation of wards for each municipality,
- the number of councillors for each Municipal Council, and
- the necessary amendments to existing legislation.
“It will also prepare a detailed action plan for the delivery of a successful municipal elections, including legislative amendments, policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures,” Mr Rabuka said.
“The working group will also prepare a budget for elections for the 13 municipal councils and the operational costs for municipal councils with the elected councillors.
“The Minister for Local Government will then table the action plan to Cabinet.
“The assessment and performance review for municipal council chief executive officers and special administrators will also be undertaken concurrently by the Ministry of Local Government.”
